Creating resilient and multi-layered transportation networks is of paramount importance for modern society, particularly considering the need to respond to a diverse array of risks. These resilient multilayer transport networks appear to share comparable properties with vital multilayer distribution systems found onboard large and complex ships. However, little is currently known regarding the similarities and differences in the design of multilayer networks found in various contexts, such as transportation infrastructure and shipboard distribution systems. This study introduces several multi-modal networks and elucidates their similarities and differences and their design processes. A case study details a typical topology of integrated onboard distribution systems, represented abstractly as a multilayer network to showcase said similarities and differences. The study concludes with the lessons learned from comparing transportation networks with vital onboard distribution systems and provides an outlook for future research into resilient shipboard systems.